Handcranked strip Cap popper

ABSTRACT

a Cap popper that allows popping caps as fast as you can turn a lever.

This application claims priority from provisional No. 61,100,691, filed Sep. 26, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is herewith incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Caps are small discs of explosive compounds (roughly 1.4 to 1.6 mm in diameter) mounted on a paper backing. The small size of the caps makes sure that the caps cannot really be dangerous. Hence, they have been used as parts of toys.

A cap gun is a device that can pop one cap at a time, based on the trigger being pulled.

SUMMARY

Cap guns usually fire a single cap at a time. Since caps are generally exempt from fireworks laws, a toy which could activate a number of caps all at once could have great acceptance in the marketplace.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an front on view of the device;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the device; and

FIG. 3 illustrate the slid out assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a cap popper. The device includes a housing generally shown as 100, which includes a single opening area 102. The housing is substantially closed at all areas other than that opening area. A handle 104 rotates certain moving parts to allow firing the cap and moving to the next cap. In operation, a roll of caps such as 106 can be placed on spindle 108. The roll of caps is threaded through a path shown generally as 110. The path takes each cap to be hammered between a hammered top 114 and a fixed pressing surface 116. The motion of the cam does too things—it forces the caps along the path 110, and also opens and closes the hammer. Caps emerge at 112 after being exploded.

The assembly on which hammered top 114 is mounted, is hinged around a hinge element 118. One end of the hammered top 114 provides a hammering surface 115 that pounds against the caps 112 between the hammering surface 115 and fixed pressing surface 116. The hinge 118 hinges the hammered top 114 between the closed position shown in FIG. 1, and a substantially open position.

A spring 120 may bias the device into the closed position.

The handle 104 includes a plurality of cam surfaces 132, each cam surface associated with the cam part 130. As the handle is rotated, the cam surface 132 presses against an end 135 of a helper device 134 that is hinged on a hinge element 136. The movement of the helper device 134 relative to the hinge element 136 causes rotation of the hammered top 114 around its hinge, to open against the force of the spring 120, and then to snap closed under the spring force, when the surface 135 of the helper part 134 reaches the end 131 of the cam 132. The hammer top slams against the surface 136. This slamming against the surface causes the cap to explode.

At the same time, the moving part 150 causes the cap roll to advance to its next cap.

In operation, the holding parts such as 108 are also hinged on a hinge 152. This part can be removed by using a lock lever 154 to release the cam moving part and cause it to move in the direction of the arrow 156. When pivoting to the open position, a cap is placed on the cap wheel 108. The cap wheel 108 also includes a hammering surface 116, and the caps can be threaded so that each so that first cap is against that piece 116.

FIG. 3 illustrates the slid out assembly 102. The cap roll can be located on the element 108, and threaded along the path 110. With the cap threaded in this way, the assembly can be swung back into place, at which time it latches tight against the locking mechanism 134.

At this time, the handle 104 can be turned as quickly as the user is able to turn this handle. This allows caps to be popped at a very high rate of speed, faster than is possible in any gun. The advantage of this system, therefore, is that the caps, which can be sold in toy stores, can make a lot more noise because they can be exploded faster than in the prior art.

The general structure and techniques, and more specific embodiments which can be used to effect different ways of carrying out the more general goals are described herein.

Although only a few embodiments have been disclosed in detail above, other embodiments are possible and the inventors intend these to be encompassed within this specification. The specification describes specific examples to accomplish a more general goal that may be accomplished in another way. This disclosure is intended to be exemplary, and the claims are intended to cover any modification or alternative which might be predictable to a person having ordinary skill in the art. For example, other structures, including electric motors, can be used in a device of this type.

Also, the inventors intend that only those claims which use the words “means for” are intended to be interpreted under 35 USC 112, sixth paragraph. Moreover, no limitations from the specification are intended to be read into any claims, unless those limitations are expressly included in the claims. 

1. A cap popping device, comprising: a housing; a first element, rotatably mounted to said housing to rotate to a first position at least partly outside said housing, and a second position inside said housing, and having a cap roll holding surface located to hold a roll of caps, and having surfaces to establish a path for caps unrolled from said roll of caps, said first element having a hinging part which allows said first element to move between said first open position, and in said first open position which allows access to the cap roll holding surface that allows holding the caps, and said second position, said first element having first pressing surfaces; a second element, located adjacent said first element, and forming second pressing surfaces opposite said first pressing surfaces on said second element; a cam, which is rotated to both rotate the caps and automatically advance said roll, and also to move said second pressing surface to periodically hammer said caps between said first pressing surface and said second pressing surface.
 2. A device as in claim 1, further comprising a latch which latches said first element into said second closed position, and which allows releasing said first element from said closed position to put said first element into said second open position.
 3. A device as in claim 2, wherein said cam includes a handle located thereon, said handle facilitating rotating said cam from outside of said housing.
 4. A device as in claim 1, further comprising a spring element holding said second element, and wherein said cam rotates a part of said second element against a force of said spring into an open position, and quickly releases said second element to hammer said second element down against said first element.
 5. A method, comprising: mounting a roll of caps on a roller element; moving said roll of caps to a position inside a housing; and rotating a device which exploded said roll of caps serially exploded one after another, as fast as said device can be rotated.
 6. A method as in claim 5, wherein said caps are exploded by a moving hammer.
 7. A method as in claim 5, wherein the same device causes said caps to be removed from said roll, and also to be pressed between two hammer parts.
 8. A method as in claim 5, wherein said moving comprises rotating a hammer.
 9. A cap popping device, comprising: a housing; a first element, mounted to said housing to move between a first position at least partly outside said housing, and a second position inside said housing, and having a cap roll holding surface located to hold a roll of caps, and having surfaces to establish a path for caps unrolled from said roll of caps; first pressing surfaces, along said path; second pressing surfaces, along said path; and a handle that rotates to move said caps along said path, to open said first pressing surfaces relative to said second pressing surfaces, and then to hammer a cap on said cap roll between said first and second pressing surfaces, and then to move another cap to said area between first and second pressing surfaces and where said rotate of said handle also causes said hammer of said cap between said first and second pressing surfaces.
 10. A device as in claim 9, further comprising a hinging element, moving said first element between said first position, and in said first open position which allows access to the cap roll holding surface that allows holding the caps, and said second position.
 11. A device as in claim 10 further comprising a cam, which is rotated to both rotate the caps and automatically advance said roll, and also to move said second pressing surface to periodically hammer said caps between said first pressing surface and said second pressing surface.
 12. A device as in claim 11, further comprising a spring element holding said second element, and wherein said cam rotates a part of said second element against a force of said spring into an open position, and quickly releases said second element to hammer said second element down against said first element.
 13. A device as in claim 12, further comprising a latch which latches said first element into said second closed position, and which allows releasing said first element from said closed position to put said first element into said second open position. 